System and method of producing a composite product

ABSTRACT

A method of producing a composite product is provided. The method includes providing a fluidized bed of metal oxide particles in a fluidized bed reactor, providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, providing a carbon source in the fluidized bed reactor for growing carbon nanotubes, growing carbon nanotubes in a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor, and collecting a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/308,480, filed Mar. 15, 2016, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

Carbon nanotubes are small tube-shaped structures essentially having a composition of a graphite sheet in a tubular form. Carbon nanotubes feature diameters less than 100 nanometers, and large aspect ratios, where the length is much greater than is the diameter. For example, a length of the CNT may be more than 1000 times the diameter. Single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) are increasingly becoming of interest for various applications in nanotechnology because of their unique electronic structures, which gives them exceptional thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties. For example, SWNTs can be used in electronics, energy devices, medicine, and composite materials in order to obtain desirable physical and chemical properties. These uses require methods for producing significant quantities of SWNTs.

Processes for producing SWNTs include, but are not limited to, physical methods (e.g., electrical arc, laser ablation) and chemical methods (e.g., pyrolysis, chemical vapor deposition). Once formed, the SWNTs are sometimes distributed within a matrix material, which modifies the thermal, mechanical, and electrical properties of the matrix material. However, the enhancement of electrical or mechanical properties of matrix material by nanotube additives requires very homogeneous dispersion, no agglomeration and fine control over the nanotube/matrix ratios. Attempts have been made following the synthesis of nanotubes to disperse the nanotubes in various solvents (e.g. via surface functionalization) followed by mixing of the nanotubes with the matrix (e.g. by ball milling, sonication etc.). However, such attempts have failed to provide satisfactory dispersion of the nanotubes in the matrix as they lead to the reduction of aspect ratio, damage the nanotubes, and increase the cost of the processed material.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

In an aspect, a method of producing a composite product is provided. The method includes fluidizing an amount of metal oxide particles within a fluidized bed reactor, providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, providing a carbon source to a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor, growing carbon nanotubes in the carbon nanotube growth zone, and providing a flow of carrier gas to the fluidized bed reactor and carrying a composite product comprising carbon nanotubes and metal oxide particles through the fluidized bed reactor.

In an aspect, a system for use in producing a composite product is provided. The system includes a fluidized bed reactor comprising an amount of metal oxide particles contained therein, an outlet, a catalyst or catalyst precursor source in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor to provide a flow of catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, and a carrier gas source in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor to carry a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes grown in the fluidized bed reactor.

In an aspect, a method of producing a composite product is provided. The method includes providing a fluidized bed of metal oxide particles in a fluidized bed reactor, providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor, providing a carbon source in the fluidized bed reactor for growing carbon nanotubes, growing carbon nanotubes in a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor, and collecting a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary system that may be used to produce a composite product in an aspect of the disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide heated to 750° C. in air.

FIG. 3 is a TGA for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide heated to 750° C. in nitrogen.

FIG. 4 is an x-ray powder diffraction (XRD) spectra for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (a) as received, (b) after heating to 750° C. in air, and (c) after heating to 750° C. in nitrogen.

FIG. 5 is a portion of a view of the XRD spectra of FIG. 4 enlarged for magnification purposes.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram illustrating an exemplary series of process steps that may be used in producing a composite product in an aspect of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein relate to a composite product, and systems and methods for making the composite product. In general, the systems and methods provide for the in-situ dispersion of carbon nanotubes into a metal oxide matrix material in the course of carbon nanotube growth in a reactor. The reactor may be a fluidized bed reactor capable of aerosolization or fluidization of the metal oxide matrix material with a fluidization gas flowing from a gas distributor, such as a porous frit, from the bottom of the reactor. One or more injectors may be provided in the middle of the reactor to supply catalyst and carbon precursors for growing of the carbon nanotubes. Hence, carbon nanotubes may be grown in a cloud of fluidized metal oxide matrix material to provide in-situ mixing and, as a result, improved homogeneity of the resulting composite product containing carbon nanotubes and metal oxide matrix material. The composite product may be used in an electrode. In a non-limiting example, the composite product may be used in a cathode of a secondary lithium battery.

FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary system 100 that may be used to produce a composite product 102 comprising carbon nanotubes and metal oxide matrix materials. In the exemplary embodiment, system 100 includes a fluidized bed reactor 104 having an amount of metal oxide matrix material contained therein. The matrix material may be any solid, metal oxide particle that is capable of being suspended in a fluidized bed. An exemplary metal oxide includes, but is not limited to, any metal oxide that may be used in an electrode. In an illustrative example, the metal oxide is a material for use in the cathode of the battery. Non-limiting examples of metal oxides include Ni, Mn, Co, Al, Mg, Ti and any mixture thereof. The metal oxide may be lithiated. In an illustrative example, the metal oxide is lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (LiNiMnCoO₂). The metal oxide particles can have a particle size defined within a range between about 1 nanometer and about 100 microns. In a non-limiting example, the metal oxide particles have an average particle size of about 1 nanometer to about 10 nanometers.

In an illustrative example, the fluidized bed reactor 104 includes a reaction chamber 108, and a gas distributor that may comprise a porous frit 110 coupled to reaction chamber 108 and a gas plenum 112 coupled to porous frit 110. Porous frit 110 includes a plurality of flow apertures 114 defined therein such that gas plenum 112 is coupled in fluid communication with reaction chamber 108. Gas plenum 112 receives a flow of fluidizing gas from a first gas source 118. The flow of fluidizing gas is routed through plenum 112 and the porous frit 110 to fluidize the metal oxide particles in the reaction chamber 108. The fluidizing gas may be any gas capable of fluidizing the metal oxide particles to form a fluidized bed 109 of metal oxide particles. Exemplary fluidizing gases include, but are not limited to, argon, helium, nitrogen, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia.

As shown in FIG. 1, the fluidized bed 104 may include one or more heat sources 119 for heating the reaction chamber 108 to the desired reaction temperature. For example, the reaction chamber 108 may be heated with the heat source 119 to a temperature in the range of about 450° C. to about 1100° C. depending on the catalyst or catalyst precursor and the type of nanotube desired. In one embodiment, especially to accommodate sensitive cathode materials, the reactor can be operated closer to the lower end of this temperature (e.g. ˜500° C.) and in the presence of hydrogen in order to avoid converting the cathode material. In an alternative embodiment, the reactor can be operated closer to the higher end of the aforementioned temperature range (e.g. ˜750° C. and above) and in the absence of hydrogen). The products obtained from operating the reactor whether at the lower or higher temperatures are not necessarily limited to SWNTs. Typically, single-walled nanotubes (SWNTs) require higher temperatures (>750° C.) while multi-walled nanotubes (MWNTs) can be grown as low as about 450° C. In a non-limiting example, the reactor his heated to a temperature of about 450° C. to about 850° C. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4, and 5, lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide is thermally stable up to at least 850° C. via TGA (FIG. 2 in air and FIG. 3 in nitrogen) and XRD (FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) measurements. Therefore, such a lithiated mixed metal oxide can be provided in a fluidized bed reactor at temperatures suitable for the growth of carbon nanotubes.

Fluidized bed reactor 104 may also include one or more inlets for introduction of the metal oxide particles, the catalyst or catalyst precursor, a carrier gas 127, and the carbon precursor for the carbon nanotubes. As shown in FIG. 1, an inlet 120 is provided for the introduction of the metal oxide particles from a metal oxide particle source 106 into the reaction chamber 108. It is to be understood that any method or device may be used to introduce the metal oxide particles into the reaction chamber 108 via the inlet 120. In a non-limiting example, the metal oxide particles may be fed into the reaction chamber 108 with a screw feeder, belt feeder, vibratory feeder, or a rotary (bulk solid) feeder. In addition, or alternatively, the metal oxide particles may be conveyed pneumatically into the reaction chamber 108. Non-limiting examples include pressure vessel conveyors, pressurized screw conveyor, airlifts, blow-through feeders, and jet feeders. The conveying gas may the same as or different than the fluidizing gas. Exemplary gases include, but are not limited to, argon, nitrogen, helium, hydrogen, carbon dioxide, and ammonia. It is to be understood that the metal oxide particles may be continuously fed into the reaction chamber 108 so that the system operates in a continuous operation of the reaction chamber 108, the metal oxide particles may be introduced in a single charge for batch operation of the reaction chamber 108, or the metal oxide particles may be intermittently added for semi-batch operation of the reaction chamber 108.

The carbon nanotubes can be synthesized using carbon precursors, such as one or more carbon-containing gases, one or more hydrocarbon solvents, and mixtures thereof. Examples of carbon-containing precursors include carbon monoxide, aliphatic hydrocarbons, both saturated and unsaturated, such as methane, ethane, propane, butane, pentane, hexane, ethylene, acetylene and propylene; oxygenated hydrocarbons such as acetone, and methanol; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and naphthalene; and mixtures of the above, for example carbon monoxide and methane. In general, the use of acetylene promotes formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes, while CO and methane are preferred feed gases for formation of single-walled carbon nanotubes. Specifically, hydrocarbon solvents may include, but are not limited to, alcohols such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol. The carbon precursor may optionally be mixed with a diluent gas such as hydrogen, helium, argon, neon, krypton and xenon or a mixture thereof. As shown in FIG. 1, a carbon precursor may be included in a carrier gas 127 (e.g. via carrier gas source 126) and introduced to the reaction chamber 108 via inlet 128.

The catalyst or catalyst precursors may include any catalyst or catalyst precursor that may be used in the production of carbon nanotubes. The catalyst or catalyst precursor may be one or more of an acetylacetonate, a metallocene, an acetate, a nitrate, a nitride, a sulfate, a sulfide, an oxide, a halide, a chloride, and the like. Illustrative metals for use as the catalyst include, but are not limited to, iron, nickel, cobalt, molybdenum, or a mixture thereof. Non-limiting examples of catalyst precursors include iron(III) acetylacetonate, ferrocene, iron acetate, iron nitrate, iron sulfate, and iron chloride. It is to be understood that the catalyst or catalyst precursor source may be a solid powder, a solid dispersed in a liquid, or dissolved in a solvent. As shown in FIG. 1, a catalyst or catalyst precursor source 130 may be provided in communication with the reaction chamber 108 via inlet 132 to introduce the catalyst or catalyst precursor to a carbon nanotube growth zone 150 of the reaction chamber 108. A pump, solids feeder, syringe, or any other device or method known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used to introduce the catalyst or catalyst precursor into the carbon nanotube growth zone 150. It is to be understood that the carbon precursor may be mixed with the catalyst or catalyst precursor and introduced with the catalyst or catalyst precursor via inlet 132.

As shown in FIG. 1, a collection vessel 170 is provided for collecting the composite product of metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes. The composite product exits the reactor 104 at outlet 175 and is collected in the vessel 170. The vessel 170 may include a porous filter or membrane 176 that collects the composite product 102 in the vessel 170, but allows the gases leaving the fluidized bed reactor 104 through the exit 175 to be exhausted from the system via outlet 177. In a non-limiting example, the porous membrane may be a porous quartz frit. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a collection vessel 170 and porous filter or membrane 176, as any collection system may be used that is capable of separating solid particles from a gas stream. Non-limiting examples include one or more cyclone separators and bag houses.

In a non-limiting example, the metal oxide particles can be provided with a catalyst or catalyst precursor deposited thereon prior to introduction of the metal oxide particles in the reaction chamber 108.

In operation, the growth rate of carbon nanotubes and the weight percentage of carbon nanotubes relative to the metal oxide particles in the composite product is controlled by the feed rates of the metal oxide particles, the catalyst or catalyst precursor, and the carbon precursor into the reaction chamber 108. These feed rates can be tailored to produce the desired ratio of carbon nanotubes to metal oxide particles in the composite product to meet the needs of a desired application.

In an illustrative example as shown in FIG. 2, a method of making the composite product comprises providing a fluidized bed of a metal oxide particles (step 200), providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed (step 300), introducing a carbon source in the fluidized bed (step 400), growing carbon nanotubes in the fluidized bed (step 500), and collecting the composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes (step 600). In a non-limiting example, at least some of the catalyst or catalyst precursor is deposited on the surface of the metal oxide particles and the carbon nanotubes are grown on the surface of the metal oxide particles.

EXAMPLE Production of Composite Product

To demonstrate the method of producing a composite product comprising carbon nanotubes and metal oxide particles, the following experiment was conducted.

A quartz tube having a 2 inch diameter was provided as the reaction chamber 108 for the fluidized bed reactor 104 and a tube furnace was used as the heat source 119. The quartz tube was aligned vertically with a lower end closed with the porous frit 114. Two tubes were provided at the center of the porous frit 114 for the carrier gas inlet 128 and the catalyst/catalyst precursor inlet 132. Both inlets 128/132 were positioned below the section of the reaction chamber 108 heated by the heat source 119. Lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide particles were used as the metal oxide particles and were poured onto the porous frit 114 to a height of about 10 millimeters. The fluidizing gas, argon, was then provided at a rate of about 350 sccm (standard cubic centimeters per minute) through the porous frit 114 at the lower end of the quartz tube to fluidize the metal oxide particles. The reactor chamber 108 was heated to a temperature of about 800° C. The carrier gas 127 included a mixture of argon (about 850 sccm) and hydrogen (about 300 sccm) and was provided to the reaction chamber 108 via inlet 128. The catalyst precursor was a solution of ferrocene (0.4 wt %) and thiophene (0.2 wt %) in ethanol. The ethanol functioned as both a solvent for the ferrocene and the carbon source for growing the nanotubes. The catalyst precursor solution was injected at a rate of 6 ml/hr via the inlet 132 into the carbon nanotube growth zone 150 where the ferrocene decomposed to iron catalyst particles having a diameter of about one nanometer, and the ethanol was converted to a carbon source for the growth of single walled nanotubes on the iron catalyst particles. The carrier gas 127 transported the composite product 102 from the nanotube growth zone 150 through the reactor outlet 175 and to the collection vessel 170. The composite product included SWCNTs and lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide particles and comprised approximately 0.7 wt % SWCNTs.

This written description uses examples to disclose various implementations, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the various implementations, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of the disclosure is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal language of the claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of producing a composite product, said method comprising: fluidizing an amount of metal oxide particles within a fluidized bed reactor; providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor; providing a carbon source to a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor; growing carbon nanotubes in the a carbon nanotube growth zone; and providing a flow of carrier gas to the fluidized bed reactor and carrying a composite product comprising the carbon nanotubes and the metal oxide particles through the fluidized bed reactor.
 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein carrying the composite product through the fluidized bed reactor comprises transporting the composite product towards an outlet defined near a top of the fluidized bed reactor.
 3. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising receiving the composite product discharged from the outlet of the fluidized bed reactor in a collection vessel.
 4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising at least one of continuously or periodically replenishing the metal oxide particles in the fluidized bed reactor.
 5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising heating the carbon nanotube growth zone to a temperature greater than about 450° C. to less than about 850° C.
 6. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing the catalyst or catalyst precursor comprises injecting the catalyst or catalyst precursor from a bottom portion of the fluidized bed reactor and into the nanotube growth zone.
 7. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein providing the carrier gas comprises discharging a flow of the carrier gas into the nanotube growth zone and transporting the catalyst through the nanotube growth zone toward the fluidized bed reactor outlet.
 8. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fluidized bed reactor comprises a gas distributor positioned below the nanotube growth zone, and fluidizing the metal oxide particles within the fluidized bed reactor comprises feeding a fluidizing gas through the gas distributor at a rate sufficient to fluidize the metal oxide particles within the fluidized bed reactor.
 9. A system for use in producing a composite product, said system comprising: a fluidized bed reactor comprising an amount of metal oxide particles contained therein, the fluidized bed including an outlet; a catalyst or catalyst precursor source in fluid communication with the fluidized bed reactor to provide a flow of catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor; and a carrier gas source in fluid communication with the fluidized bed to carry a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes grown in the fluidized bed.
 10. The system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a first injector coupled in fluid communication with the catalyst or catalyst precursor source, and extending such that the flow of the catalyst or catalyst precursor is discharged into a nanotube growth zone in the fluidized bed reactor.
 11. The system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a second injector coupled in fluid communication with the carrier gas source, and extending such that the flow of carrier gas discharged therefrom transports the carbon nanotubes grown in the nanotube growth zone toward the outlet.
 12. The system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a metal oxide particle source coupled in operable communication with an inlet of the fluidized bed reactor, the metal oxide particle source is configured to selectively replenish the metal oxide particles in the fluidized bed reactor.
 13. The system in accordance with claim 9, further comprising a collection vessel coupled in fluid communication with the outlet of the fluidized bed reactor, the collection vessel configured to receive the composite product discharged from the outlet.
 14. A method of making a composite product comprising: providing a fluidized bed of metal oxide particles in a fluidized bed reactor; providing a catalyst or catalyst precursor in the fluidized bed reactor; providing a carbon source in the fluidized bed reactor for growing carbon nanotubes; growing carbon nanotubes in a carbon nanotube growth zone of the fluidized bed reactor; and collecting a composite product comprising metal oxide particles and carbon nanotubes.
 15. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the fluidized bed reactor includes a top and a bottom, a gas distributor is positioned below the nanotube growth zone near the bottom of the fluidized bed reactor, and the metal oxide particles are fluidized in the fluidized bed reactor by feeding a fluidizing gas through the gas distributor at a rate sufficient to fluidize the metal oxide particles within the fluidized bed reactor.
 16. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the catalyst or catalyst precursor comprises ferrocene.
 17. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the catalyst precursor comprises ferrocene and an alcohol, and wherein the alcohol is the carbon source for growing carbon nanotubes.
 18. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein providing the catalyst or catalyst precursor comprises injecting the catalyst or catalyst precursor via an inlet to the fluidized bed reactor, wherein the inlet is positioned below the nanotube growth zone and above the gas distributor.
 19. The method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising providing a carrier gas into the nanotube growth zone for transporting the carbon nanotubes through the nanotube growth zone toward an outlet of the fluidized bed.
 20. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the carrier gas includes the carbon source for growing carbon nanotubes.
 21. The method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising receiving the composite product discharged from an outlet of the fluidized bed reactor in a collection vessel.
 22. The method in accordance with claim 14, further comprising heating the carbon nanotube growth zone to a temperature greater than about 1000° C.
 23. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metal oxide particles are mixed metal oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 24. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metal oxide particles are lithiated mixed metal oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 25. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the metal oxide particles are lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 26. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fluidized bed reactor is heated to a temperature of greater than about 450° C. to less than about 850° C.
 27. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the fluidized bed reactor is heated to a temperature of greater than about 800° C.
 28. An electrode comprising the composite product made in accordance with claim
 1. 29. A cathode comprising the composite product made in accordance with claim
 1. 30. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the metal oxide particles are mixed metal oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 31. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the metal oxide particles are lithiated mixed metal oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 32. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the metal oxide particles are lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide particles, and the carbon nanotubes are single-wall carbon nanotubes.
 33. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the fluidized bed reactor is heated to a temperature of greater than about 450° C. to less than about 850° C.
 34. The method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the fluidized bed reactor is heated to a temperature of greater than about 800° C.
 35. An electrode comprising the composite product made in accordance with claim
 14. 36. A cathode comprising the composite product made in accordance with claim
 14. 